SABMiller sponsors animal torture in Colombia!

During years, Bavaria, the main Colombian brewery, has prided on its sponsorship of bullfights. Ties are close: a member of Bavaria’s board of directors, Alberto Preciado-Arbeláez, is part as well of the Corporación Taurina de Bogotá, which organizes the torture and killing of bulls every year in the city. When SABMiller acquired Bavaria in 2005 the sponsorship continued. In the promotional poster above, we can see that Club Colombia, the elitist brand of Bavaria, sponsored the 2009 bullfight season in Bogotá. And at the bottom end of the poster we can read something Bavaria seems to feel right about: “Permitido el ingreso de menores de edad”, that is Minors are allowed in the premises. So not only SABMiller sponsors animal torture, it as well promotes alcohol consumption in events shamefuly attended by minors. In SABMiller’s policy on commercial communication you can read that “Commercial communication may only be placed in print, radio or television; on the internet; or in text messaging where at least 70% of the audience is reasonably expected to be of legal drinking age”. But in Bogotá commercial communication related to bullfights is not only aimed at patrons: banners are placed outside the bullring within 200 meters of a school, a university, the city planetarium, a park, and the 7th avenue, which on Sundays is transformed into a huge cycling route and recreational venue. This not only seems to violate SABMiller’s policy but also clearly violates city regulations about advertising alcoholic beverages: these establish that no commercial signs inducing to alcohol consumption can be placed within a 200 mt range of any educational or recreational establishment (Bogota Police Department Code, article 87, no. 10). Furthermore, in December 2007, Bavaria, together with state-owned breweries and alcohol beverages importers, signed a self-regulatory agreement on commercial communication which includes a ban on posters within 200 meters of primary and secondary schools. In the pictures below, from January and August 2009, we can clearly see how much Bavaria and two state-owned breweries cared about their own rules (see banners in red and green).

SABMiller may argue about the 30% of minors or even about the 200 meters. But what is undeniable is SABMiller’s involvement with animal torture and killing, killing for the wicked joy of a few. Shamefully again, Colombian animal protection law excludes cockfights, corralejas, coleo, bullfights and other public shows of animal torture. Though legal in Colombia, sponsoring bullfights should be unacceptable to SABMiller, since its policy says that “commercial communication may not have an association with violent or anti-social imagery or behaviour”. But Bavaria’s sponsorship of torture goes wherever in Colombia alcohol can be sold, no matter if violence against animals is part of festivities, all through the country, in large cities and small towns, even sponsoring mobile bullrings so torture may travel along with alcohol promotion. Bavaria may argue bullfights are part of Colombian culture (?), but SABMiller should know better: being a UK-based company they should respect in other countries what they are obliged by the UK Animal Welfare Act, which clearly prohibits everything that happens associated with bullfights (the rearing, the promotion, the torture, the profit). By supporting animal torture, SABMiller sees no wrong in doing in Colombia things for which it would be prosecuted in the UK. No conscience whatsoever.

We call for all concerned people in Colombia and the UK to ask SABMiller for answers: Do they acknowledge they are violating their own policies? Will they respond to their violations of Colombian regulations on the promotion of alcohol consumption? Do they recognise their double moral standards on animal torture? Let’s not ask just for answers, let’s demand the end of their involvement with a bloody, repugnant tradition. Now.

How? Call or write to SABMiller top executives demanding explanations about 1) advertising alcohol in settings were more than 30% of the audience could be minors, 2) advertising alcohol within 200 meters of educational and recreational establishments, and 3) sponsoring animal torture. Demand them to end all involvement with bullfights and any other events where animals are exploited, harmed and killed for sheer recreational purposes.

If you are in the UK and are part of an activist group, please organise activities to expose SABMiller’s involvement with animal torture.

Bavaria and SABMiller top executives’ phone numbers, addresses and emails:

• SABMiller plc (Headquarters at London)
• SABMiller Latin America: Calle 94, 7A-47, Bogotá, Ph: +571 638 9000

Juliana Ocampo, Communications and Sustainable Development Director, Juliana.Ocampo@la.sabmiller.com

Cristina Hanabergh, Social Responsibility Manager, mobile +57 3153602903

Together we will end the shame of bullfights in Colombia. Join us in Facebook.